A Bill aimed at modernizing Jamaica’s public procurement laws was laid in the House of Representatives on July 30. The Bill entitled, the Public Procurement Act, 2014 was tabled by Minister with responsibility for Public Service in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Hon. Horace Dalley. In a statement to the Lower House, Mr. Dalley said the law will reflect...

The House of Representatives has approved two Bills, aimed at facilitating the collection of taxes and improve the rate of compliance by Jamaicans. They are the Tax Collection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2014 and the Tax Penalties (Harmonization) Act. They were passed on July 23. Closing the debate, which began on July 22, Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon....

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 22, began debate on two pieces of legislation, aimed at enhancing the collection of revenues and improve compliance. The Bills, entitled the Tax Collection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2014 and the Tax Penalties (Harmonization) Act, were piloted by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips. The Minister pointed out that the...

The Jamaican dollar has strengthened in value since the intervention in the foreign exchange market by the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ). The Central Bank’s Governor, Brian Wynter, says since the intervention on July 10, the rate of the dollar has appreciated and this continued over the following days. At the close of trade on Thursday, July 17, the Jamaican dollar...

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is urging persons, who have difficulty meeting their tax obligations to speak with its compliance officers to avoid enforcement action. In a release issued on July 16, the TAJ said during this fiscal year, it will be increasing enforcement action against delinquent taxpayers and also make it public. The TAJ noted that during the months of...

Government’s efforts to effectively address the needs of the country’s most vulnerable citizens have been boosted through the newly created Social Protection Strategy. The strategy, which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, aims to strengthen the State’s existing social protection framework by streamlining the provision and allocation of social resources and other interventions by the Government. It...

Nominations are being invited from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, for the 2014 Civil Servant of the Year. The award, now in its 11th year, recognises one civil servant deemed to have exhibited excellence in public service delivery, over the past year. Nomination forms should be completed by Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments and submitted along with a...